Closure retainer



G. F. BALLOU CLOSURE RETAINER Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,562

.Filed NOV. 22. 1926 l l 1 v Z 7 Hi INVENTOR GEORGEF flflLLou f//5 ATTORNEY ill Patented Jan. 31, 19.28.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. BALLO'U, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., AS$IGNGR TO THE h IE NNEN COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEVT JERSEY, A CORPOE-ATEON OF NEW JERSEY.

CLOSURE RETAINER.

Application filed. November 22, 1926. Serial No. 149,911.

My invention relates to stoppers or closures for bottles, tubes and the like, and more particularly to means for attaching the stopper to the article to which it pertains when not functioning normally as a closure.

lvly improvement is illustrated and described in connection with the familiar llcxihis or collapsible tube with threaded cap, as used for pastes and similar plastic materials, and has for an object to provide a relatively inexpensive yet etiectire means for holding a stopper cap in convenient position for replacing upon the bottle after having been removed to permit withdrawal of a portion of its contents.

Another object of my invention is to provide retaining means for a screw cap by means of which when the cap is removed from the opening of the tube it is held securely in a predetermined position so as not to interfere with. the free flow of the plastic content as it issues from the neck of the tube.

Other objects of my improved stopper holding device will appear as the disclosure develops relative to the illustrated embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying the specification, of which Fig. l is a View of the head end of a tube with cap in place equipped with the retaining member of a preferred form of my i n v ention Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cup unscrewed and swung back on its hinge;

l ig'. 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a tube end partially showing the retaining member without cap, and disclosing an annular retaining groove; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the retaining member detached and slightly distorted to show both pintle ends.

Having reference to the drawings:

The numeral 1 represents a familiar type of collapsible tube for pastes, lotions, creams, ointments and the like, having the usual tapered end 2 terminating in a threaded neck member 3 with an opening a therethrough.

I employ also the well known form of threaded cap 7 with a recessed body portion adapted to be screwed upon the neck 3 as now commonly practised, and as thus far explained the tube andcap are employed only as the basis to which my improvement in one of its preferred forms applies.

Thus at the under side of the disc like top of the cap adjacent the internally threaded body thereof I introduce a hinge lug 8 which is preferably formed as anin tegral portion of that member and has cxtendingentirely through the lug an orifice which forms a bearing for each of the two pintles or pivots of a retaining member next to be described more in detail.

The retaining member which is formed of spring wire of relatively small gage, is shown in plan view disconnected from the tube in Fig. and has an GHCllCllIlg loop 11 adapted to lit snugly into the annular groove 5 at the base of the threaded neck 3 of the tube 1, as best shown in Fig. 4, which groove may be formed by the same operation which shapes theneck and forms the threads therein. The loop 11 is circular in form and is open circumferentially only an amount sutlicient to admit of the loop being sprung into the groove 5 into which it is adapted to lit. The central loop 11 blends into two similarly but oppositely disposed return loops 12 which in turn continue upwardly and backwardly to form the two similarly disposed spring arms 13 which are more or less concentrically formed relatively to the contour of the neck 3 of the tube, which they partially enclose.

The free ends ofthe arms 13 are in similar manner bent inwardly to form the straight portions 14, the end of each of which straight portions is bent to form two registering pintles or pivots 15 to enter from opposite directions the orifice of the hinge lug 8 of the cap.

The aggregate length of the two pintlo members is slightly less than the width of the lug 8, which constitutes the length of the orifice therein, whereby it is provided that the full tension of the spring arms may be applied through the parallel portions 14 of the arms 18, against the side surfaces thereof, with sufficient frictional contact upon the hinge block 8 to support the cap to which it is attached at any desired angular elevation.

Thus when the cap has been unscrewed and thrown back upon its hinged connection, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will hold that position while the content is being forced out, in whatever position the tube may be held relatively to the open cap. 1

In like manner, owing to the peculiar conformation of the retaining member it may be so formed that the central loop 11 will grip the neck of the tube or, more particularly described, be fitted into the annular groove 5 with sufficient frictionaleontact to securely hold the cap in the elevated position above the neck of the tube when removing its contents.

It will be seen that the inclination of the two return loops 12, both iupwardly and outwardly relatively to the main axis of the neck ofthe tube, enables the cap after having been unscrewed and thrown back, to be held adj acent the top edge of the neck or the tube and in convenient position to be readily replaced for screwing on the neck, the operation be ing aided by reason of the resilience of the spring wire from which the member 10 is formed. However, the tension of the wire is sullicient normally to support the cap sulr etantially in the position shown in Fig. 2, so

that the cap will of its own action when carried forward on its hinge seat itself in position for the threads thereof properly to engage or enrnesh with. those of the tube neck to admit of screwing the cap into place without any unnecessary hindrance or exatious delay.

lVhile I have illustrated in connection herewith a fully designed device tor holding a screw eap upon a collapsible tube it is nevertheless obvious that the stopper retainin;- member may be employed without a groove 5 specially formed for seating the same. The loop 11 may be made to encircle the neck portion 3 at or near the base and be held in place by the spring gripping action oi" the eurted wire sutiiciently for many prac tical purposes. Thus my improvement may be successfully applied to the neck or many of the common types of bottles now in use the hinged end being attached in a suitable manner to any convenient :l'orin of cork or stopper.

For use in connection with the ordinary tube in holding the relatively small cap of light weight I employ a small gage of; piano wire, preferably coated with nickel or other non-ozridizing n'mterial to protect the steeh and the loop 11 is made to fit closely so as to grip the neck of the tube or bottle in the manner and for the purpose pointed out. The length and diameter of the return loops 12 will a nn'oxiznate the relative proportions unheated in the drawinga; hut l'or larger bottles a stronger wire would be required to produce the desired results.

I claim l. A container having a neck with an annular recess at its base, a cap adapted to engage over said neck, said cap lraring a head oli larcger diameter than its body a radial flat sided longitudinal lug: on said body integral with the head and having an open transrerse oril'irc a cap connecting element eoinposml oil. a main spring loop engageable in the neck recess, re-eutrant side loo ps blending from said main loop, arms extending from said side loops beyond and spaced from the main loop, the outer portions of said arms being; dir-iposed in parallel to l'rictionally engage the Hides ol" said inn. and in reaching: aligned terminals on said arms to art as pivots in the lug; oriliee.

A container having a threaded neck with an annular groove at the base oi. the threads a screw cap cngageablc with the threads, a wire tonnector hating a spring loop engaged in the mentioned groove, said loop blending" into rc-entrently turned arms having pivoted connection with said cap, and means associated with said arms to retain said cap in any augularlj adjusted position when uinicrewed from said neck.

in testimony whereof I have hertainto set my hand.

(ElEORGE F. BALLOU.

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